What You Should Know BEFORE You File An Insurance Claim
By Harvey V. Cohen, Esq.
As a homeowner, it is important to be aware of the type of insurance coverage you have for the premiums you are paying.
Some insurance basics a policyholder should have before a storm are:
- The name of your homeowners insurance company
- The amount of your hurricane deductible
- Information on how to contact your carrier to report a claim
- Documentation of your property before a storm and the damages (if you have any) after the storm
There are many different kinds of homeowner’s insurance policies available. It is important to review your policy and check that you have appropriate coverage for issues when a claim may be made.
For example, it is important to know if you have coverage for:
- Ordinance and Law
- Additional Living Expenses
- Coverage for Water Damage
- Loss of Use
- What your mold cap may be
These are all areas that can come into play when the insured claims damage to their home. Understanding what types of insurance coverage are in your homeowner’s policy will lead to a smoother claims process.
Get to know your insurance company.
The Florida Division of Consumer Services has a Complaint Comparison chart where insureds can look up insurance companies in Florida and see the complaints other policyholders have made against them.
It is prudent to do your own independent research on insurance companies. A broker or agent may have a relationship with one carrier, but not another. Insureds should always research and make their own educated decisions for what types of coverage is right for their home.
Want to know more?
After Hurricane Irma in 2017, Cohen Law Group was on IAQ Radio where we discussed the aftermath of hurricanes and some of the common questions homeowners have when making an insurance claim. The interview dives much deeper into the topics discussed in this blog post. You can check out the entire interview by CLICKING HERE.
Know Your Rights
Cohen Law Group’s experienced insurance dispute attorneys can walk you through these issues and your particular policy so you understand your insurance rights. When an insurance company does not cooperate, and a claim is not paid out in full or is denied, we are happy to review the claim and see if we can assist in recovering additional funds. If you have any questions about a hurricane or property damage claim for your home, please call us at 407-478-4878 for a free consultation.
Harvey V. Cohen, Esq.
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